"We never realize how frozen we are until someone starts to melt our ice." -Bridgett Devoue

**

"Why do you look at her like the sunrise?" the little boy wondered as his curious eyes stared at the guy beside him.

The man glanced at him, "Because she is," he laughed.

"How come?" he intrigued and moved closer, listening attentively.

"Her hold is the warmest I've ever been. Her laugh makes my heart beat fast but her smile makes my heart stop beating. Everything... She's every beautiful feeling I've felt," he told him.

They watch as the woman in her dress plays with the little girl on the grass. They were having fun, giggling under the sun. The boy smiled at the man, admiring him. He hugged his toy towards his chest and cackled.

"I don't think everyone finds that," he uttered. The guy looked at him.

"I might not see someone that beautiful," the little boy added and swayed his small feet hanging from the bench they were sitting at.

"You will," the man guffawed, making him look up. His brows furrowed. He felt him tousling his hair.

"When you meet her."

TAEHYUNG snapped his fingers in front of Jisoo, "Do you get dumber looking each day? The hell you're gawking at?"

She shook her head and stared at him wide-eyed, "W-what are you doing here?"

"What 'what' ?" he squinted his eyes at her, "You forced me to attend my classes. Now I'm here, at least look happy, stupid," he said and pushed her forehead lightly.

Jisoo blinked several times. She poked his cheeks continuously until his hand caught hers, "The fuck are you doing?"

Her mouth was agape for a second before she squealed, "You're the real deal!"

"No shit, Sherlock?" he sarcastically replied before rolling his eyes at her. He ignored her and walked away.

She instantly followed him, "I can't believe you really went here today!" she went beside him.

"Yeah, me too," he blankly uttered.

"Now that's a start," she didn't mind his scornful comment. She grinned and gave him a thumbs up making him groan, he slouched.

"So..." Jisoo hummed while skipping her steps. She was looking at his face, "Where are you going?"

"The back of the campus," Taehyung simply answered.

"Hmm..." she nodded consequently. She turned to him again, "Why?"

"Cutting classes," he deadpanned.

Jisoo was mortified and stopped walking. She thought she heard it wrong. However, he dismissed her reaction and continued walking.

When she recovered, she jogged to catch up, "You went here to cut classes?"

"Uhuh," he uttered languidly. His steps became faster before she could speak. She had no choice but to match his pace.

They took a turn at the corner of the building where a large empty space is located. There are dumpsters on one side. The grounds are covered with grasses and wild plants. The back wall of the building is even covered with moss.

Surprisingly, there is one big tree standing at the middle part of the lot. Taehyung went straight there and sat under it.

He threw his bag across the grass and leaned on the trunk. He put his arms behind his head before stretching his legs and crossing them together

He closed his eyes.

"Why did you throw your bag?" Jisoo sighed as she watched him. She went to pick it up.

She was baffled by its weight so she opened the zipper to check what's inside, "This is so light, what did you bring-"

"Air," Taehyung nonchalantly said, not budging from slacking off under the tree.

She looked at him in disbelief, "Why did you bring one if it's empty?"

"Display," he shrugged.

Jisoo's jaw dropped. She pinched the bridge of her nose. She breathed in and out slowly.

Happy thoughts, think of happy thoughts, she told herself then she marched to his direction.

"Taehyungie!" she exclaimed and poked his cheek, "This is not what I meant when I told you to go back to school! I meant to attend your classes!"

"Don't wanna," he mumbled. He is starting to get irritated as his brows are now furrowed.

"Then what's the point of going?" she puffed her cheeks.

"Got bored," he sighed, "Might look for someone to pick a fight with later."

Jisoo hit her forehead with her palm. She crouched in front of him, "No you won't."

"Yes I will," he scoffed.

"No! I will not let you," she grabbed his arm, "You are attending your classes today," Jisoo pulled him with all her strength.

"Quit it," Taehyung said, annoyed. He made himself more heavy, giving her a hard time dragging him. He closed his eyes stubbornly.

"No!" she still persisted and did not let him go.

"Don't you have your fucking dumbshit classes-?!" he opened his eyes just in time of her pulling him the hardest.

Because of the force, she unintentionally let go of him and tumbled backwards, he was out-balanced and fell forward. Before he slumped forward entirely, he managed to put his hand on the grass and support his weight.

Just then he noticed that he was almost hovering on top of her, who also barely stopped herself from falling on the ground. He looked at her very close face.

He felt his heart skip a beat. His stares lasted a second longer. When he realized their position, his eyes widened and so was her startled innocent face. He gulped.

"Damn," he moved away hastily while breathing hard. As if all of his strength was drained, he remained sitting on the grass, facing the opposite side.

He glanced at her and saw that she sat properly. She faced him. He felt his heart thumping again because of her sudden gazes. He looked away in panic and grabbed a handful of grass. He threw it on her face.

"Yah!" Jisoo yelled and wiped her face because of some dirt her threw at her. Taehyung stood up.

He felt the heat crawl from his neck to his ears. He turned his back from her and held his nape while trying to calm his breathing.

Am I having an attack? My heart is beating fast but this is way different from the usual.

Jisoo frowned and glared at his back, "Bully! Meanie!" she jumped on her feet and fixed her messy hair. He looked at her over his shoulder.

There goes the thumping again, he thought as he watched her dust off her clothes.

One. Two. Skip. One. Two. Skip.

This is her doing, he concluded as he gripped his shirt over his chest.

"Hey, hey!" Jisoo waved her hands in front of him, "Are you listening? I said, let's go to your class now!"

Taehyung was brought back to reality. He felt his cheeks heat up, he punched his chest and coughed to distract himself before looking away, "I told you I'm not going."

"And I told you I'm not letting you off the hook," she hugged his arm, "Are you okay?" she asked but he shoved her off. She wasn't fazed and pulled him with her whole body.

"That's futile," he said to her, he is still not budging from his position, "You cannot pull me. You're like a kitten pulling on a tiger."

"Not... Giving... Up..." Jisoo struggled and faced the opposite direction while pulling him with both of her arms. However, he still won't move.

She sighed audibly. She let go of him. He thought she gave up as he watched her with her weird tactics. Suddenly, she jumped in front of him and took a step forward in surprise. She looked up to his towering height.

Oh shit, he cursed under his breath. His heart was getting frantic again. He took a step back.

She tiptoed and went closer. He felt his heart totally stop in anticipation of her moves. Then, she leaned forward.

Not this fucking look, he swallowed hard.

Jisoo's sparkling orbs locked his eyes in a trance. Her pinkish lips pulled into a wide and very warm smile. Her eyes glistened under the sun yet contrary from her warm demeanor, he was left frozen on the spot.

"Taehyungie..." she gently said, she put her hands together and closed her eyes firmly as if she was praying hard.

"Please just go to your classes and I promise to pack you dinner too, from now on," she opened her eyes and pleaded at him with puppy eyes.

Don't fall for it. Don't fall for it. Don't fall for it. Don't fa-

"Taehyungie, please?" she nodded slowly at him, wiggling her eyebrows. She beamed at him and it was the last straw.

"Fried pork," he uttered in defeat.

He heaved a deep breath, "Fried pork cutlets. I want them fucking crispy and breaded," he added while looking away.

"Deal!" Jisoo giggled and took his hand for a forced handshake.

"Now off you go to your class!" he held his hand and enthusiastically dragged him away.

This girl must be a witch, he inwardly thought as he watched her.

Taehyung is a person who does not confide with anyone... Not even the law, sometimes. But he can't understand why whenever it comes to her, it only takes a stare, one smile and her soft voice, his walls break down with ease. He hates dwelling on this fact because it only leaves him in frustration.

He cannot find an answer why.

"166..." Jisoo looked at the numbers of the doors while pulling him, "167... 168!" she halted which made him stop too.

"Here. It's your class. 5 minutes early, huh!" she cheerily said before facing him. There are few students inside already. He looked up on the number indicated at the door.

"Can't remember having this class," he muttered.

"It says here on your tattered schedule," she answered while waving a crumpled and almost ripped small piece of paper at him.

"Why haven't I thrown that shit away?" he squinted his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"What? You won't throw this away! You don't even memorize your schedule," she sighed and folded it carefully.

"I will just keep this from now on to make sure-" she paused in her sentence when she felt someone bumping on her back. She looked back to see a guy in a hoodie and earphones bowing down.

He must've realized he hit something and he looked up. His eyes widened.

Goddamn hell, it's a girl! Jungkook thought to himself as he was unmoving like a statue on his spot.

"Oh, hey. Good morning!" Jisoo greeted him and smiled, "Sorry, I'm blocking the door," she bowed at him.

"Uh, no!" he yelled, Jisoo was taken aback and lifted her eyes to him, "N-no... It's... Good. Good, yeah. Uh, I mean... Like... Good m-morning?" he fumbled his words.

Taehyung looked at the guy blankly. Jisoo laughed, "Here, you can go inside now," she stepped aside and smiled at him.

Jungkook hastily entered the room to save his face from embarrassment. He sat in the middle row of the class and glanced at the two who were still seemingly arguing with each other by the door.

"Go on, it's almost time," Jisoo pushed Taehyung on his shoulders, "Listen to class, okay? Then go to your next one, we'll see each other during break. Message me, alright?"

Taehyung just lazily let her shove him inside. He walked to the farthest corner of the room and dropped his bag. He glared at Jisoo who is still standing by the door, some students passing by her entering the class.

Jungkook shifted his eyes between them. He saw her give him a thumbs up. Taehyung just rolled his eyes in return and slumped his head down on the desk. When he looked in the girl's direction he saw her leaving already.

A couple? He wondered until he shrugged it off because their professor had already arrived.

-

ROSÉ GULPED as she felt the tension in the air of their surroundings. She stared baffled at the view in front of her.

What on earth is happening?

She was sitting on a table with Bona and Jisoo because they agreed to eat together since they are the only ones who are free right now. That's something that is normal...

It should have been just another lunch out with her friends until Taehyung and Jinyoung joined their table, too.

Rosé exchanged glances with Bona who is just as confused as her. She thought she'd never be as shocked when Jisoo suddenly dragged Taehyung to eat with them but to make things worse, Jinyoung popped out of nowhere and slammed his tray on their table to sit with them.

"It's our first time being all together!" Jisoo seems to be oblivious of the strong tension around them as she clapped her hands and looked at everyone in celebration.

"Let's eat now?" she asked and opened her packed food. The two guys remained silent and they also cannot speak.

"Do you have snacks?" Jisoo turned her head to Taehyung and asked. She is acting way too normal. Rosé and Bona silently glanced at him.

"What do you think?" he questioned bluntly. He was leaning on the chair.

"You should've messaged me and said that you are going today," she said. The girls' eyes widened because of what they heard and Jinyoung even choked on his drink.

"Yeah, like I would do so," Taehyung scoffed and slumped forward on the table.

Jinyoung clenched his jaw before he put his snack down. He glared at Taehyung who was trying to sleep without manners on the table.

"Then let's just buy you one he-"

"Jisoo," Jinyoung said seriously, cutting her off from speaking. Bona and Rosé shifted their gazes to him this time, still quiet.

He finally caught her attention, "Hm?" she hummed then turned to face him.

"Don't waste your time on ungrateful people," he uttered meaningfully, emphasizing ungrateful, "Eat. You still have one last subject, right?"

"Oh, uhm yeah bu-" a loud thud made the girls flinch.

They looked at Taehyung who slammed his hands on the table. Jinyoung was unfazed, glaring at him even though some of the students looked in their direction too.

"Say... Why do you go all poetic on me, Mr. Good guy?" Taehyung snorted and licked his lower lip, trying to control his temper.

"Can't have enough shitty guts to say it fucking directly, eh?" he leaned his cheek on his one hand and tilted his head while staring at him mockingly.

Jinyoung snickered and shook his head. He sighed to calm his nerves as he gripped on his bottle of water firmly, crushing it on the process.

"You can't do anything but to piss off everyone, huh? How's it feel playing delinquent? Like the attention you are finally getting?" Jinyoung retorted.

"Uh, guys..." Jisoo laughed nervously, realizing how bad of an idea putting them together. Rosé and Bona are just silently exchanging their stares at the two, whoever was speaking.

"Damn, boy! We know who likes seeking attention between the two of us," Taehyung smirked, "I know it's not me who's trying to please people."

Jinyoung glared at him, "It's because you can't. All you're good at is being bad, yeah?" Jisoo held him by his shoulder and tried to stop him from speaking anymore but Taehyung spoke again.

"Yeah," he nonchalantly said and stood up. He stretched his arm and yawned.

He slammed a hand again on their table, "And this bad guy..." he leaned towards him, "Will do you a favor to save you from embarrassing your pretty fuckface," he whispered right at his face before backing away.

"I don't want to see Prince Charming going boohoo while pissing his pants again," he gave him a smug smile. He quickly grabbed his bag and left before he could say anything back.

"Uh... Coffee? Anyone?" Bona broke the ice and raised her cup of caffeine after a minute of silence passed their table.

"Sorry guys," Jisoo said softly and the girls just nod awkwardly at her. Rosé gave her a small smile and tried to act normal.

Jisoo started picking her things, "Uhm... I... I'll just excuse myself," she said and slowly stood up.

Jinyoung grabbed her arm. They looked at him all at once.

"Will you follow him?" he asked. His face did not show any emotion so it was hard to see what he was thinking.

She bit her lip and sighed, "I need to check on him, sorry," she bowed and then walked away, his hand dropping from holding her.

Bona and Rosé stared at each other before looking away. Rosé took a big bite on her sandwich while Bona just sipped her drink stiffly. They didn't know what to do, should they leave? Should they stay on the table? Should they speak?

However, Jinyoung suddenly stood up and left the table with a dark aura, not saying a word. The two finally sighed in relief and faced each other.

Rosé turned to face her friend. She couldn't help but ask, "What the heck just happened?"

-

"DO YOU have something about rooftops?" Jisoo said when she found Taehyung lying on the floor of their school's rooftop.

"Do you have something about stalking people around?" he spitefully answered. His face is crumpled now but he didn't look at her. He was facing the clear blue sky but with eyes closed. Perhaps trying to sleep again.

"Not really," she smiled to herself and went to sit down beside him. She hugged her knees and put her chin on it.

A moment of silence remained between them. Even so, Taehyung wasn't able to fall asleep. He was actually half expecting her to bombard him with questions and lecture about what happened at the cafeteria. But to his surprise, there was none.

Maybe she left already? He thought. He opened one of his eyes and glanced at her sidewards.

He saw her sitting peacefully. Staring in front and quiet. Her hair was kinda messy because of the cold wind that day. Taehyung closed his eyes again and sighed.

"You're not asking me anything? Your gospels and speech shits?" he taunted to observe her response.

"I don't think you need that right now," Jisoo simply answered.

"I assumed maybe it's too personal. It's Jinyoung's say too, so maybe it could be a story not for you to tell. Maybe you are uncomfortable or maybe you are not in the mood," she gently explained.

"I won't bother you," she added, which made him open eyes to see her, "Just know that if you want to, you can tell me."

Jisoo finally turned to him, "Anytime," she smiled.

The sun shoned behind her figure. She looked way too bright again and she looked like she belonged with the clear blue sky. She fit the scenery perfectly in his eyes.

"Huh, as if," he said to cover himself up. He rolled his eyes and looked away, "There's still a little speech. You're so talkative," he mumbled before glancing at her.

"Yeah, maybe I am," she uttered while looking up at the calm clouds, her sweet laughter left him awestruck.

He thought he would get used to her every time she was around him yet, she always surprised him. When they are together, she keeps giving him all the odd giddy feelings.

"I don't think everyone finds that."

What's with her? Why is it that it feels like he is staring at an unfinished canvas in a museum when he looks at her?

No, he cannot tell whether she was painted as a sunrise or a sunset... She just looks breathtaking and ethereal. She was plain-

"I might not see someone that beautiful."

She was just sitting there, swaying her head a little to a hymn she was humming softly to herself.

He was frozen there, unmoving, stuck staring at her. But it was a different kind of stuck. It's not the kind of stuck like what he was in the past years. It's not a numbing way of being stuck.

It was being stuck because you wanted the moment to stop and remain as it is.

"You will."

She looked at him and they stared at each other. She grinned.

This has happened for many times but the feelings he felt keeps on getting a lot more overwhelming every single time. His heart skipped and beat loudly.

"When you meet her."

Jisoo tilted her head and stared at him silently asking 'What?'. He wasn't able to respond right away. He remained confused.

Is she a painting of a sunrise or a sunset?

He still cannot find the answer. If there is one thing he knows that split second... It was that she was...

She definitely is-

"Beautiful," Taehyung whispered to himself.